⁠Is The Famous Beo Crescent Curry Rice Closing For Good? Here’s What We Found Out

Affectionately nicknamed “No Name Hainanese Curry Rice” by netizens because the stall has no signboard, Beo Crescent Curry Rice has been serving customers since 1988. It’s owned by a gruff lady who only wants to be known as auntie Mo, and her husband (see main photo). 

Another round of closure rumours

8days.sg first caught wind of the possible closure via a Facebook post by the retired co-founder of Eighteen Chefs, Benny Teo. According to his post, the beloved curry rice stall was allegedly meant to close at the end of this month after the coffee shop was sold to Chinese owners for $4 million, who intended to evict the current stalls. 8days.sg reached out to Benny for more information, but he has yet to respond, so 8days.sg is unable to verify the details. We also went down to the coffee shop to find out more (see below).

A separate Facebook user shared similar news, adding that the stall owners were searching for a new place to relocate to. 

Hawkers’ kids publish Facebook post

Moreover, the hawkers’ children posted on the stall’s Facebook account on behalf of their parents on 21 September. While they did not confirm the eatery’s closure, they explained that discussions with the new coffee shop owners were ongoing as they try to reach an agreement that would allow the curry rice stall to remain at the same location.  

So many questions, so little concrete answers. So 8days.sg dropped by the stall on 22 September to investigate.

We spotted long queues after news of rumoured closure

Perched beneath a block of old HDB flats on Havelock Road, Beo Crescent Curry Rice operates out of Roxy Square Kopitiam, right next to Beo Crescent Food Centre. The kopitiam looks relatively new if no-frills, thanks to renovations carried out in 2022.

It’s a small space with only two stalls currently up and running. Alongside the curry rice stall is Ruai Ruai Thai Food. We asked the hawker behind it if he’ll be staying on at the premises following the coffee shop’s change in ownership. He briefly replies: “We’re not staying,” before waving us away. There’s also a drinks stall there, but it seemed permanently closed. Customers now order drinks from the kopitiam next door.

Despite having no signboard, Beo Crescent Curry Rice is hard to miss. Long queues are a common sight, with netizens often remarking on the stall’s consistent lines. 

When 8days.sg popped by at 11.15am on a Monday, we assumed the snaking queue was driven by news of the stall’s possible closure. However, most of the customers we spoke to appeared unaware of the rumoured closure. One man, however, was eager to be kept updated on the stall’s fate: “Let us know, we’ll read the article. Write more about these old stalls closing down, too many closing.” Another customer shared that he lives in the east but still makes the trip down to eat their curry rice. 

8days.sg waited around 30 minutes for our food. At one point, we counted 25 people in the queue. 

Hawkers too busy to chat initially

When we reached the front of the line, the aunties manning the stall were too busy to chat and asked us to return after they closed shop at 2.30pm. However, when we returned, the queue was still going strong.

It wasn’t until 3.15pm, after the food had sold out and the hawkers were packing up, that we managed to speak briefly with the no-nonsense auntie Mo. 

“Just renovating, renovating” 

“Hi auntie, are you closing down or relocating your stall?”, asked 8days.sg. She briskly replied: “Just renovating, renovating. Open till [the] last day of the month [on 30 Sept], renovations [begin] in October.” When we enquired when the stall would reopen, she added, “I don’t know when the renovation will be completed.” 

Is it true that the coffee shop where her stall sits was sold for $4M? And has rental for her stall increased as a result of the sale? “I don’t know,” she tells 8days.sg dismissively. Our subsequent attempts at extracting information from the hawker were met with an abrupt “thank you” and “bye-bye”.  

Food still quite shiok

Although we didn’t get much info from the taciturn auntie, we did have our fill of her hearty curry-drenched rice. We ordered the crowd favorites of Crispy Pork Chop, Curry Sotong and Chap Chye (stewed cabbage). 

When we asked auntie about her current pricing, she explained: “I don’t necessarily sell things at a [fixed] price, the cheapest dish is $1.50. How much you want, how much I sell.” For reference, our above order with two plates of rice came up to $18. While we found the curry a bit too mild and would’ve preferred it punchier, we enjoyed the thin, almost cracker-like pork chop.

For now, you can get your hands on a plate of their curry rice till Sept 30, before the kopitiam undergoes renovation. Check their socials for news on reopening dates.

Beo Crescent Curry Rice is located at Roxy Square Kopitiam, 40 Beo Crescent, S160040. Open Mon to Sun 7am – 2.30pm. Closed Wed. Closed for renovation from 1 Oct. More info via Instagram or Facebook. 

Photos: Simone Chuah, Beo Crescent Curry Rice